AWIS Chapters Committee

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• AWIS Chapters Committee
• Talking Points for Chapters
• Joanne Kamens, July 2009

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Mission
AWIS is a national advocacy organization
championing the interests of women in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
across all disciplines and employment sectors.
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AWIS is Working for You

• A national, high-impact professional organization
  for all women in science
• The voice for women scientists in the public
  policy arena
• Sheds light on the continuing challenges faced by
  women in STEM

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AWIS in Action

• Expands networks and reduces isolation
• Across sectors, disciplines and generations
• Offers web-based and in-person mentoring
  opportunities
• Aids professional development
• Tools and techniques to empower women scientist
  in their career paths
• Leadership opportunities in a constructive
  environment
• Chapter-based resources
• Educational programs and mentoring (K-12)
• Regional conferences

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Diversity in STEM Matters

• The U.S. needs to have a larger tech workforce
• Increased numbers of women in STEM creates a more
  effective, balanced representation
• Without more women in STEM, the U.S. loses its
  global competitive edge
• Contributions by women scientists are critical
  for global health and human advancement

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Why Be an AWIS Member?

• AWIS is advocating for YOU in Washington and for
  YOUR RIGHTS as a Woman in Science.
• We need AWIS advocating for us in the government
  and I support them for that reason.
• Every human should be giving back in some way
  that helps things they care about..in this case
  you help AWIS and you help yourself by joining.

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Why Should Chapter Participants Join AWIS?

• AWIS membership dues are a good value at twice
  the price. To compare, it costs 160.00 to join
  the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association PLUS
  over 40.00 per event even for members (the
  Boston chapter of HBA has over 400 members).
• AWIS is a huge bargain and very valuable.
• In Boston, you must be a member of AWIS to
  participate in the mentoring program.
• You will get more involved members if they join
  and pay.

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More Benefits of AWIS Membership

• National AWIS affiliation offers many benefits
  support for women's equity in a tangible way,
  access to MentorNet.net, AWIS coaching, job
  listings, chapters around the country for
  scientists that are relocating, opportunities to
  volunteer as a mentor, an outlet for political
  involvement in gender equity, etc. etc.
• See this national website for a comprehensive
  list of benefits. http//www.awis.org/about/indiv
  benefits.html
• Do you know about the AWIS coaching program
  resources? http//www.awiscoaching.org/
• Do your members know about the online Mentoring
  program www.MentorNet.net benefit of AWIS
  membership?
• Do your potential members know about AWIS job
  listings and scholarships?
• Electronic access to the AWIS magazine.
• Electronic access to the membership list! (great
  for networking or job searching

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How to Get Support From National AWIS

• Contact Cindy Simpson in the National office
• simpson_at_awis.org
• For website questions/ updates
• For business related chapter questions
• For chapter formation information
• For assistance in soliciting new members
• For tax related details
• Remember, you are tax exempt as a chapter because
  of your relationship to national AWISthis
  requires some details such as chapter officers
  must be members of AWIS (chapter and national
  membership)

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AWIS Chapters Committee Regional Representatives

• Call the chapters committee if
• If you want advice on best practices
• If you want suggestions for programs
• If you want to learn about starting a mentoring
  program
• If you want to get in touch with other chapters
  in the area for joint events
• If you want to become part of a national
  committee or the national AWIS board
• Regional representatives
• Northeast Holly Soutter (Connecticut Chapter,
  Holly.H.Soutter_at_pfizer.com)
• West April Ho (CA-San Diego Chapter,
  apriljho_at_gmail.com) and Tawni Koutchesfahani
  (CA-LA Chapter, tkchemengr_at_yahoo.com)
• Central West Rebecca Domeck (Indiana Chapter,
  domeck_rebecca_s_at_lilly.com)
• Southeast Alice Marcy ( Philadelphia Chapter,
  amarcy_at_dynamis-therapeutics.com)
• Mid-West Joanne Kamens (jkamens_at_rxipharma.com)
  

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Resources for your Chapter at National AWIS

• Ideas from other chapters for best practices on
  membership, events and business processes.
• Check out the chapter resources section of the
  website!
• Your chapter representatives (board members,
  chapter reps) can have access to this section
  (Cindy Simpson can arrange this)
• Your chapter has a special AWIS logo you can
  download here
• Download stationary and a Powerpoint template
• Your chapter has a webpage on the national AWIS
  sitepromote it especially if you are a small
  chapter that doesnt have your own site yet. Use
  it so people can find you when they move to your
  area
• Program in a box
• Work/life balance program for your chapter
  available now/soon

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Why We Need a Strong AWIS

• Realize Equal Pay for Equal Work
• Womens salaries continue to lag behind mens by
  an average of 30 in industry and 20 in academe
• Eliminate the Glass Ceiling
• Only 11 of corporate officers at top 500
  technology companies in 2003 were female
• In 1910, 20 of college faculty were female --
  In 1997, women comprised only 28 of
  college faculty, only an 8 increase in an
  87-year period

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Why We need a Strong AWIS

• To Promote a Better Work-Life Balance
• Work and family
• Achievement and fulfillment
• Equality programs have proven successful

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How Chapters Can Help Support National AWIS

• Promote National membership to all your members
  a strong voice is needed for effective advocacy
• Send information on upcoming events to Cindy
  Simpson to promote on the website to increase
  chapter visibility
• Provide feedback our goal is to strengthen the
  relationship between National and the chapters
  through increased communication

15
1200 New York Ave., NW, Suite 650Washington, DC
20005 [phone]http//www.awis.org